Story by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Here’s a fascinating video about a mashup of science, music, technology and art. It’s called Aeolus, and it’s a giant harp that plays the wind and captures the sky.

Aeolus Wind Harp

British artist Luke Jerram plies the terrain between art, science and imagination. He is known for large scale public art projects like Sky Orchestra, a collection of colorful hot air balloons that float over cities and towns and project music down at the people on the ground.

Aeolus, which Jerram calls “an acoustic wind pavilion,” looks like a big sculpture of shiny pipies arranged in an arch. Some of the pipes are attached to long strings that are pulled tight and attached to towers.

The strings and the pipes vibrate with slight changes in the wind, “playing” the sculpture. The sound is best described by an observer who said that “it sounds like the wind’s got a secret.”

From Aeolus: “The sculpture a giant aeolian harp, designed to resonate and sing with the wind without any electrical power or amplification. Vibrations in strings attached to some of the tubes are transferred through skins covering the tops, and projected down through the tubes towards the viewer standing beneath the arch.”

The tubes, polished on the inside, reflect the changing sky like a steel prism.

From Aeolus: “The artwork was commissioned to inspire the public and engage them in the subjects of engineering, acoustics and aerodynamics. Aeolus sculpture and associated science public engagement is the result of a collaboration between Luke Jerram and Institute of Sound and Vibration Research at the University of Southampton and The Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford.”

Aeolus is named for the Greek god of the four winds. It has toured across the U.K. but has never been to the U.S.

Video: Aeolus, an Acoustic Wind Harp

You can also watch the video Aeolus at Eden on YouTube.

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S.T.E.M. video series is sponsored by Citizen Websites, the website design arm of CaryCitizen.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. – Martin Luther King Jr.

Cary, NC – I was ten when Martin Luther King was assassinated. 1968 was an ugly year. King’s murder was followed two months later by the killing of Robert F. Kennedy.

I was only ten, but King’s death was already my second assassination. RFK made three in my young life. 1968 was an ugly year.

Picturing the Influence of Dr. King

After their deaths, Bobby, Jack and Martin became martyrs and were sometimes viewed as almost saints.

Four decades later, we take a more seasoned view. But the influence of Martin Luther King and the power of his message cannot be doubted.

While his death has not been forgotten, it is King’s life that is remembered. His eloquence and passion, his moral authority and his great personal courage continue to inspire and influence the American way of life.

One measure of Dr. King’s influence – all the streets and schools named in his honor. All the statues erected in his memory.

Here are a few photos of statues of Martin Luther King from around the nation. All photos used via Creative Commons license. Thanks to the creators for sharing them.

Washington, DC. Photo by Tom LeGro for NewsHour

Birmingham, AL. Photo by Anita Sarkeesian.

Chicago, IL. Photo by Zol87.

Portland, OR. Photo by Ampersand72.

Sarasota, FL. Photo by Clyde Robinson.

Austin, TX. Photo by Bill Ledbetter.

Denver, CO. Rebecca Rothkopf.

Pasco, WA. Photo by Peter Prehn.

Story from staff reports. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – The Fine Arts League of Cary (FALC) is seeking entries for its 2011 Juried Painting and Sculpture Exhibitions. Show awards total over $4000.

Painting

The Painting Exhibition will be on display from December 3 to January 10, 2012 at Page-Walker.  Sterling Edwards, a contemporary watercolor master, will judge the show.

1st Place $800   –   2nd Place $550   –   3rd Place $350

No word on genres or media – just have at it with the paint and the brushes. Final works no larger than 40″ framed. Family friendly. More details on the FALC  website.

Sculpture

The Sculpture Exhibition will be on display from November 16 to January 9, 2011 at the Cary Arts Center. Paris Alexander is the juror for sculpture.

Maximums are: Weight: 75 lbs., and Height: 5 ft.

1st Place $800   –   2nd Place $550   –   3rd Place $350

Deadline for Entry: October 7

The postmark deadline for the mail-in registration is Oct. 7, 2011.

Full details and a printable prospectus at Fine Arts League of Cary.

Story and photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – You could drive right past the new sculpture installation on Maynard between High House and Chapel Hill Road.  But it’s worth your while to stop and get a closer look.

The Arts Alfresco

The new installation is on a pedestrian bridge parallel to Maynard but high over the train tracks.

The bridge itself is different from the surrounding area. It’s a erector set of geometric beams and girders that seems to soar above the land.

The new sculptures grace the beginning and end of the bridge. They are part of the collection called The Arts Alfresco by artist Brad Spencer of Reidsville, NC.

The collection is in three parts – on the Maynard bridge, at the corner of Chapel Hill Road and at the entrance to Dog Park. According to Cary Visual Art:

“The work illustrates how creative thought and action can be inspired by the open air environment.”

The three section installation of The Arts Alfresco punctuates the portion of the Black Oak Greenway that runs beside Maynard Rd.

Matisse, Degas, Picasso & Cicero

Each sculpture on the bridge has a quote beneath it. I like this one:

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” – Edgar Degas

Other quotes are from artists Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso as well as Roman statesman and orator Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Art on a Human Scale

As noted above, you might drive past this sculpture unknowingly. And that’s okay.

Because the sculpture on the Maynard pedestrian bridge is art on a human scale. It’s meant to be approached on foot, not glimpsed from behind a windshield.

Getting There

Park at the State Credit Union at the corner of Maynard and Chapel Hill Road. Walk up the sidewalk and across the bridge.

You can drive by. But it’s well-worth stopping.

Cary,  NC — The first placement of “The Arts Alfresco” along the Black Creek Greenway will happen on Saturday, October 30 from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. courtesy of Cary Visual Art.

The sculpture, a trio of brick artists sitting upon benches overlooking the busy intersection, is at the corner of NW Maynard and Chapel Hill Road.

“We are proud to partner with the Town of Cary to introduce Cary visitors and residents to this newest installation of public art,” said Therese Martin, operations director for Cary Visual Art.

“The Arts Alfresco,” (Alfresco is Italian for in the fresh (air)), is a collection of three public art installations along the Black Creek Greenway. When all three placements are installed, they will depict people in the act of creating art.

The pedestrian bridge crossing the railroad tracks on NW Maynard Road features a sculptor carving into the columns. At the intersection of Maynard and Chapel Hill Road, people on the benches are making music and writing. The final piece is a collection of artists who are painting on the tunnel wing walls leading to the Robert V. Godbold Park and Cary Dog Park.

“The work illustrates how creative thought and action can be inspired by the open air environment,” said Brad Spencer, Reidsville, NC artist and visionary behind “The Arts Alfresco.”

The dedication helps celebrate “Arts and Humanities Month.” Along with activities for the whole family, the artist, Brad Spencer, and Town officials will be on-hand to celebrate and enjoy “Art in the Open Air!” The public is invited to participate in the festivities.

Cary Visual Art: More than $1 Million

Since 1996, CVA has placed more than 50 works of art from all over the country, including sculptures and two-dimensional pieces, in Cary’s public buildings and open spaces. These pieces are valued in total at more than $1 million.

Visitors and residents of Cary are likely to see several examples of CVA’s art placements on any given day in Cary, helping to make Cary a great place to live.

Event Details

The Arts Alfresco Dedication
Oct 30 2010
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Lowes Home Improvement Store
1920 NW Maynard Rd
Cary, NC, 27513

Nothing much going on in Cary this weekend. Just a new outdoor sculpture exhibition, two art openings, Shakespeare at Booth Amphitheatre, professional soccer, a 5k run and, oh yeah, 50,000 people are coming for Lazy Daze.

Here’s the line-up.

Friday, August 27

Cary Art Loop
6-9 p.m.
Cary Art Loop highlights Triangle arts & culture in the Cary Area offering extended hours for participating art galleries, restaurants, coffee houses, and other businesses that showcase visual arts, music and more! For maps, details and more visit: www.caryartloop.org.

Meera Goyle, Travelogue in Paintings
Cary Senior Center, 5-8 p.m.
Medium: Watercolor
For more, call (919) 469-4081.

Cary Visual Art 2010 Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition
Come check out this year’s selection by juror Glenn Weiss, manager of public art & design in times square, NYC featuring nationally recognized sculptors: Adam Walls, NC; James Burnes, NM; Brett Hunter, NY; Jonathan Hils, OK; Daniel Howachyn, NC; Paul Hill, NC; Doug Makemson, GA; Phil Simpson, TX; Gail Simpson, WI; and Pokey Park, AZ. For maps, details and more visit www.caryvisualart.org.

Laura Gaylord: From the Tropics to the Tarheel State: Intimate American Landscapes and Still Lifes
Artists’s Reception: Jordan Hall Arts Center Gallery, 6-8 pm
Medium:  Acrylic

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night or What You Will
Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8 p.m.
Tickets and more information at www.boothamphitheatre.com or by phone at (919) 462-2052.

Saturday, August 28

16th Annual Run 4 Life 5K
WakeMed Soccer Park, 8 a.m.
For more, call (919)815-3237 or visit www.raleighrunforlife.org.

34th Annual Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival
Downtown Cary, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
FREE. Lazy Daze is the highest ranked one day festival in the Nation for Classic & Contemporary Craft Shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine.It’s a fun day for the entire family – arts and crafts, food, Kid’s World and two huge stages with entertainment all day.
For more, call (919) 469-4061.

Men’s Professional Soccer
WakeMed Soccer Park, 7 p.m.
Carolina RailHawks vs. Puerto Rico Islanders
For more, call (919) 859-5425 or visit www.carolinarailhawks.com.

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night or What You Will
Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8 p.m.
Tickets and more information at www.boothamphitheatre.com or by phone at (919) 462-2052.

Cary, NC – Cary Visual Art kicks off the brand-new Sculpture on Loan program with two fresh placements by two local sculptors. The Sculpture on Loan program was born as a response to the need of an all-inclusive art community, promoting both local artists and enriching the lives of every citizen in the Cary community.

“Point Balance”

Point Balance by Phil Hathcock

Cary sculptor Phil Hathcock installed his massive piece, “Point Balance,” along the sidewalk in front of Cary Gallery of Artists in Ashworth Village.

“Point Balance,” a slate mass weighing about one ton and towering eight feet high, responds with fluid revolution at the touch of a finger. “Point Balance” is sponsored by Ashworth Village and will be on display for 18 months.

“Oculaire”

Oculaire by Mike Roig

Carrboro artist Mike Roig has placed “Oculaire,” his twelve-foot high kinetic sculpture, at Syracuse Plastics, at the corner of Falcone Parkway and Old Apex Road. The Sculpture on Loan program is being implemented in this location in effort to thread together business and community in celebration of the arts.

Syracuse Plastics of NC President Tom Falcone is excited to share the sculpture with the adjacent neighborhood, Falcone Point, a Habitat for Humanity community. “Oculaire” is sponsored by Gillooly & Associates Realty and will be on display until October 2010.

“The beauty of making art for public places is the opportunity to reach people from all walks of life,” says artist Mike Roig. “Rather than confine the aesthetic experience to an elite few, programs like CVA’s Sculpture on Loan allow sculpture to bring its gifts of surprise, and thoughtful engagement with our environment to all who care to open their eyes, minds and hearts to its offerings.”

Black Creek Greenway Project

Arts Alfresco by Brad Spence

The Black Creek Greenway project is a result of a close knit partnership between the Town of Cary and Cary Visual Art.  It will consist of three Sculptures by Greensboro artist Brad Spence. “The Arts Alfresco”, Italian for in the fresh air, is the name for the trio of art.

“The brick artwork illustrates how creative thought and action can be inspired by the open air environment” says artist, Brad Spencer.

The first of the three sculptures along the Black Creek Greenway has been installed at the corner of Maynard Road and Chapel Hill Road.  This brick piece depicts people in the act of creating music and literature.

The second to be installed sometime this fall will show people painting on the pedestrian tunnel’s walls. The third to be completed sometime in 2011 will show people creating sculpted columns and placed at the newly built foot bridge along the greenway.

News on CaryCitizen is sponsored by Catering by Design

Here’s a picture of the work, loaded on a flatbed for transport across the country (Mr. Stutz lives in the state of Washington). Can you tell us where this piece is installed in Cary?

First correct answer (here or on Facebook) wins a long-sleeve CaryCitizen t-shirt.

Artist Michael Stutz was kind enough to send us a couple of pictures of the process.

Davis the High Horse

As reader Bob Hickey correctly answered on Facebook, a new sculpture is gracing our fair town. Bob identified the location as the corner of Davis Drive and High House. He also coined a nickname which sounds like a keeper.

One editor’s humble opinion: it’s a pretty nice statue.

How Do You Like These Apples

We ran into the Apple Man at the Western Wake Farmer’s Market. This gentleman grows the most amazing varieties of apples including the Arkansas Black pictured here. You’ll never eat a Red Delicious again.

Here are some other pictures from the WWFM on Saturday at Carpenter Village.

Documentary: This is Green Hope

We write about Green Hope a lot because one of my kids goes there (love to get some stories from other town high schools, people!).

Anyway, we always like to run a picture with a story if possible, but have never found very appealing shots of the school. So I took a couple of pictures of a documentary nature.

Horizontal and vertical. WCPSS is free to borrow.

All photos by Hal Goodtree.